Benjamin a



- BENJAMIN NITED. STATES A. LEGG, or COLUMBUS,

PATENT OFFICE.

OHIO, ASSIGNOR. TO THE LEOHNEB MANUFAOTURING OOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

DRIVE-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364.117; dated May 31,1887.

Application filed October s, 1886. Serial No. 215.119. (N0 model.)

To all whom; it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN A. LEGG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Drive-Chains, of whichthefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

Figure l is an edge view of my chain, the end bar of one link beingplaced in the clasp preparatory to closingthe members of the clasparound said end bar. Fig. 2 is a similar view with one lip of the claspbent around the end bar. Fig. 3 is a similar View with both lips of theclasp bent into working position. Fig. 4 is a plan View of Fig. 3.

This chain belongs to the class which is known as non-detachable, and isintended as an' improvement upon the chain shown in Patent No. 47,595 to1?. Anderson, dated May 2, 1865.

In chains of the Anderson type it is necessary that the clasp or closedeye shall be of sufficient thickness at all points to withstand the pullwhich is exerted upon it when the chain is in operation, and in practiceit has been found that three serious objections are incident to the useof a clasp of this character when made of a single thickness of metal.The An- T derson clasp is cast in the form of ahook, with clasp threeobjectionable results were pro-' duced: first, its strength was soweakened as to occasion frequent breakage; secondly, the interior of theclasp would be of irregular shape, instead of being circular incross-section, and therefore it would wear unevenly upon the end bar ofthe nextlink, aud,'thirdly, there would be such differences in thelengths of the links as to interfere materially with properly runningthe chain over sprocket Wheels.

In order to obviate these'objections I have made this invention, whichconsists, essentially, in the combination, in a drive-chain link, of anend bar, a lip surrounding the end bar, and a second lip, alsosurrounding the end bar and overlapping the firstnamed lip, the lipsbeing provided with looking devices which support the closed eye thusformed against the pull of the end bar. 7

. Having thus explained the nature of my invention, I will proceed todescribe one method which I have invented for carrying it into effect. I

Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

A A are side bars, connected at one end by end bar, B, which is circularin cross-section, and is preferably of uniform diameter throughout. Atthe opposite end of the link there is a clasp or closed eye consistingof two members, one of which overlaps the other. Of these members, O Ois east in substantially U shape, as indicated in Figs. '1, 2, 3, thelip 0 being of such length that after the end bar of 'anadjacent linkhas been seated therein it (the lip) can be bent around said end bar andbe made to fit closely thereto, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. Byreason'of this member 0 0 being comparatively thin it can be bent fromthe U shape into the curvilinear form'around the end bar withoutseriously weakening it, and it can also be so bent as to fit closelysaid end bar, whereby the articulations of the chain can be made with ahigh degree of perfect-ion. In order to support this member againstworking strain, I combine with it a second member or lip, D, which iseast integral therewith, and after the first member has been bent aroundthe end bar, as in Fig. 2, I bend this second member or lip, 1), aroundthe first member, and by an examination of the drawings it will be seenthat this lip D overlaps and rests upon and engages with the underneathlip of the hook part; hence whenever in this case I use the wordsoverlapping lip I refer to a lip which is bent around outside of anotherlip and is adapted to engage therewith and sup port such interposed lipagainst the pull of the end bar. I further provide these lips with interlooking projections, preferably in the form of ribs or shoulders 0(Z, the rib 0 being upon the outer face, 0, the rib (I being upon the init being evident that the links can only be separated after sufficientlystraightening out both members of the clasp to permit the withdrawal ofthe end bar from between them;'but I have found that by the use of asufliciently flexible and tough malleable iron a combined clasp of thissort can be opened and closed without breaking as many times as will beordinarily found necessary during the usual life of such a chain, andowing to the fact that by means of the combination of two lips formingthis closed eye each lip can be made so thin that it is practicable tocouple and uncouple the links by the aid of such tools as are ordinarilyat hand in such places where chains of this kind are commonly used.

What I claim is- 1. In a drive-chain, a closed eye consisting of a lipbent into curvilinear form in crosssection, in combination with an outeroverlap ping lip adapted to support the inner lip against the pull ofthe end bar, substantially as set forth.

2. In a drive-chain, a closed eye consisting of a lip, O, bent intocurvilinear form in cross section, in combination with an outer overlap,

ping lip, O, and locking devices, substantially as described, connectingthe lips, substantially as described.

3. In a drive-chain, a link having two side bars connected with eachother by a round end bar, and having at their opposite ends a closed eyeconsisting of a lip bent into curvilinear form in cross-section andprovided with an outer transverse rib, in combination with anoverlapping lip provided with an inner trans verse rib adapted to engagewith the rib of the inner lip and support said inner lip against thepull of the end bar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN A. LEGG.

Witnesses:

DAVID C. WELLING, K. E. WILLIAMs.

